DUNDEE West LibDem candidate, Jenny Blain, is a strong supporter of Scottish independence, the Tories have claimed.

The researcher and writer, with an interest in Shamanic beliefs, previously called Willie Rennie’s support for the Union “laughable”. In one Facebook post, the long-term activist said she was “saddened”

by the Scottish LibDem support of No.

“We have to go ahead as this is the only way for justice and freedom for Scotland, and maybe one day, the old Liberal goal of a federal system which might be different from ‘Britain’,” she argued.

She also wrote pro-independence poetry: “I know that you know / When I vote for independence / That this is not about you / Or your hopes or aspirations.”

Launching the party’s manifesto yesterday, Willie Rennie said the LibDem position on the constitution was straightforward. “We are clear. No independence referendum. Full stop,” he said.

Scottish Conservative Angus candidate, Kirstene Hair, said: “Willie Rennie is today appealing to pro-Union voters by insisting he will oppose a second referendum.

“At the same time, he is fielding candidates who supported independence in the 2014 referendum and who have described the Union as ‘outdated’.

“It is typical two-faced LibDem hypocrisy. If Willie Rennie wants to re-brand himself as the defender of the Union, he should explain why he’s backing independence-supporting candidates.”

Blain responded: “The independence referendum was three years ago. Times have changed and we need to defend all the UK against an extreme Brexit.

“My end-goal is a strong Scotland within a federal United Kingdom.”